Friday, June 13, 2014

STAR WARS: Fellowinheritance with the saints or "may the force be with you" for the body of Christ?

Quote from Brian Kelson of Acts 28.net, one of the "Yoda" teachers."......the hope was the promised made to Israel's fathers. Not in any recorded address, or in any letter written during Acts did Paul address a company called the church which is His Body with Christ as Head and blessings in the heavenly places."

Even among the fellow brethren that believe that the body of Christ started with Paul in Acts 9 also teach that the body of Christ has a "heavenly calling" or a "heavenly hope" and that our inheritance is out in outer space somewhere. They think that Christ raptures us to the air to send us out into outer spaceand tells us "may the force be with you". At which point the "Yoda" telling you all this is saying that we float around in outer space for eternity.

Not so! Let's examine this heresy as "Yoda" has delivered it to us.

Heresy 1.) The body of Christ has a heavenly hope and calling.

That much is true, but the dispensational-Yoda-guru that has just made that statement is trying to imply that this means that the body of Christ spends eternity in outer space rather than Christ's kingdom on earth. The book of Hebrews is written doctrinally to tribulation saints and the author said that they had a "heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1). Saying that the body of Christ is the only one with a "heavenly calling" is heresy.

The New Jerusalem descends out of heaven, it is HEAVENLY and it is in HEAVENLY PLACES, it is a "HEAVENLY CALLING".

Heresy 2.) Ephesians 3:1 says that we have spiritual blessings in heavenly places so therefore the body of Christ has a distinct calling from Israel. We are also told in Colossians to set our affection on things above and not on the things of the earth. (That is floating around in outer space with the blessings, the blessings may be a new space ship, UFO, or lightsaber for all believers.) May the force be with you.

What Ephesians 3:1 says is true, we have spiritual blessings in heavenly places, but that is where the New Jerusalem is. Did you know that kingdom saints have blessings in heavenly places?

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 6:[19] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:[20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The kingdom gospel believers are told the same thing, that is blessings in heavenly places. That is not a signature attribute to the hope of the body of Christ (church age believers).

Heresy 3.) Philippians 3:20-21 says that our conversation is in heaven and Ephesians 2:6 says we are seated in heavenly places. The hope of the body of Christ is floating around in heaven.

Let's examine this proof passage that "Yoda" has given us. Accept let's get the context and full meaning of the passages (gasp!).

Ephesians 2:[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Philippians 3:[20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:[21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Both passages are saying that you are seated in heaven and that our conversation is in heaven because we are "IN CHRIST". We are joined unto the Lord as one spirit and one body (1 Corinthians 6:15-17) and so wherever Christ is, we are there too. He is the Head and we are the body (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23-32). We are seated in heavenly places because we are "IN CHRIST", not because we are spacemen.

OUR HOPE IS THE NEW JERUSALEM. THE BODY OF CHRIST IS COMING TO THE EARTH.

Ephesians 1:[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:[11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

When the body of Christ is in heaven and the kingdom saints have made it through the tribulation Christ will gather all them together in one. We have obtained the inheritance of Christ and Israel, the New Jerusalem and kingdom.

Ephesians 2:[11] Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;[12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:[13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Now we are not strangers from the covenants of promise and we are fellowcitizens with the kingdom saints because we are in Christ. Ephesians 3:[1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,[2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:[3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,[4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)[5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Now as members of the body of Christ we are fellowheirs with Christ and Israel, that is the New Jerusalem and kingdom.

Below are three passages of scripture that all say that doing the Lord's work gives you extra rewards and inheritance in the kingdom. Ephesians 5:[1] Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;[2] And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.[3] But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;[4] Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.[5] For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

2 Timothy 2:[9] Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.[10] Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.[11] It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:[12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:[13] If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Colossians 3:[23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;[24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.[25] But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

That lines up with the judgment seat of Christ. When a member of the body of Christ dies in the church age he is in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ where Christ shows him what he did for the Lord and what "sort" of work it was. Christ shows him what inheritance he will get in the kingdom.

1 Corinthians 3:[12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;[13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.[14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.[15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.[16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?[17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.[18] Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.[19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.[20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.[21] Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;[22] Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;[23] And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Now here is the interesting part......

1 Corinthians 6:[1] Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?[2]
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world
shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?[3] Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

The rewards we get are high positions of reigning with Christ in His kingdom. We could earn the rewards of a position above even the angels as members of the body of Christ. The interesting part is that there will be a kingdom on earth, but there will also be a new heaven created as well (Revelation 21:1). Now as members of the body of Christ we will be above the angels as we just saw in 1 Corinthians 6. There will be a new heaven and a new earth and the angels can go from heaven to earth.

Genesis 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

As members of the body of Christ we can have a position above the angels and the angles go back and forth from heaven to earth. Therefore the members of the body of Christ will probably be able to do the same thing. We may take part in the kingdom of Christ in heaven and earth.

The point of this post is just to say that Christ gets the New Jerusalem and the kingdom on the earth. How can His body live with Him and reign with Him and "ever be with the Lord" (1 Thes. 4:17) if we are not in the New Jerusalem with Him? Why would the body spend eternity away from the Head?